6 arrested as home invasion response near Huntsville sparks safety concerns

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Six people were arrested following an armed home invasion near Huntsville on Canada Day which also sparked a highway closure south of Gravenhurst.

Ontario Provincial Police said, shortly before 5 a.m., officers received reports of an armed home invasion at a private residence in the Hillside area, 14 km east of Huntsville.

As the situation developed, the OPP said the investigation extended beyond the Hillside area and prompted the closure of Hwy. 11 in both directions a short time later, between Severn River and Coopers Falls Rds., and between Canning and Graham Rds. Police reopened the highway hours later.

A hold-and-secure order was also issued during the incident, but it was lifted as well.

“A number of specialized units were deployed to the area, including the OPP’s Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Canine Unit,” the OPP said on social media.

“Aviation Services assisted with aerial support, while crisis negotiators and crime units were actively engaged in the response.”

The OPP said it also worked closely with CN Police due to nearby rail lines, and with the Ministry of Transportation and emergency medical services to ensure public safety and for their operational needs.

However, a driver who was stuck on the highway said the situation posed safety risks to commuters stranded in their cars for hours.

Nancy Turley said she was driving on Hwy. 11 after leaving her home in Milford Bay at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday for training at a Salvation Army camp in Georgina later that morning when she came upon hundreds of vehicles at a standstill.

She initially thought there was an accident, but found out a manhunt was underway after she called her husband and her son searched online to find out what was happening in the area.

“We were really in the dark and nobody came and told us what was going on,” she told The Canadian Press. “We were supposed to shelter in place and if you were in your car to stay in your car with your doors locked, which I thought was a little bit bizarre.”

Turley said the decision to keep people waiting in their cars was far riskier than letting them go because it could have led to a hostage situation.

“I thought it was a little bit ridiculous because if, in fact, these (suspects) are running around with guns like we were told and (police) were trying to catch them, I think the drivers were far more at risk just sitting there for four hours in their cars,” she said.

The OPP did not respond to a request for a comment from CP about criticism of the highway closure.

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Police said six people are facing various charges in the alleged home invasion, including robbery with a firearm and kidnapping. They also identified a silver Honda CRV with an Ontario plate of CZFE 895 as a suspect vehicle.

“The OPP urges the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activity to police,” the OPP said.

Residents of the area should expect to continue to see an increased police presence, cops said.

Anyone with any information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact the Huntsville OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

— With files from The Canadian Press.